George Stillman Hillard

Public speaking In addition to his oratorical contributions in meetings of the Massachusetts legislature, he gave the July 4 oration in Boston in 1835; a lecture on "Public Instruction in Prussia" (1836); a speech on "The Relation of the Poet to his Age," at Harvard (1843); he spoke on “Dangers and Duties of the Mercantile Profession” to the Mercantile Library Association (1850); he spoke before the New York New England Society (1851); and he delivered a eulogy on Daniel Webster in 1852.

Writings His publications include: memoirs of James Brown and Jeremiah Mason (privately printed) a life of Captain John Smith for Sparks's “American Biography” The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, with a critical introduction (5 vols., Boston, 1839) a translation of François Guizot's “Essay on the Character and Influence of George Washington” (1840) memoir of Henry Russell Cleveland with a selection from his writings (privately printed, 1845) Memorial of Daniel Webster (1853) Six Months in Italy (2 vols., 1853) Selections from the Works of Walter Savage Landor (1856) Life and Campaigns of George B. McClellan (Philadelphia, 1864) “Political Duties of the Educated Classes,” a speech and pamphlet (Boston, 1866) Life, Letters, and Journals of George Ticknor, with Mrs. Ticknor (1876) a series of school Readers and many articles in periodicals and encyclopedias.

Death and burial Hillard died at his home in the Longwood neighborhood of Boston on January 21, 1879. He was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.

Family In 1834 Hillard married Susan Tracy Howe, the daughter of Northampton Law School founder Judge Samuel Howe. They had one child, George S. Hillard Jr. (1836-1838).